Singletrack

Latest Episodes:

Katie Schide | Eurotrack Introduction, Transvulcania Preview May 03, 2023

Show notes

This is the first episode in a series called Eurotrack where I’m joined by Katie Schide and Brett Hornig to analyze key races on the European ultra-trail running circuit.
In this inaugural episode, we talk about the athletes that American fans might overlook, the key training hubs in the region, the races that matter most on the continent, and differences in training, racing, and sports media over there before previewing Transvulcania at the end of the conversation.
Timestamps:

(2:29) - European trail running training hubs
(11:30) - European trail athletes that fly under the radar
(37:08) - Key races on the European ultra trail running circuit
(51:03) - Transvulcania preview

Discounts:

Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

Additional Links:

Follow Katie on Instagram, Strava, Website
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon
Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and The Feed

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

#128 - Katie Schide | 2022 UTMB Champion

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Cole Watson | Canyons 100K Champion May 01, 2023

Show notes

Cole Watson and Brett Hornig join the podcast to recap Cole's win at the Canyons 100K this past weekend.
Discounts:

Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Additional Links:

Follow Cole on Instagram, Strava, Personal Website
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon
Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and The Feed

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

#192 - Cole Watson | 2023 Black Canyon 100K Pre-Race Interview
#77 - Cole Watson | 2022 Western States Pre-Race Interview

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Catherine and Michel Poletti | UTMB World Series, Ironman Partnership, Future of Trail Running Apr 29, 2023

Show notes

Catherine and Michel Poletti are the Co-Founders of the UTMB race series in Chamonix, France. They join the podcast to discuss their vision for trail running over the last two decades, their history with ITRA and the Ultra Trail World Tour, partnering with Ironman and building the UTMB World Series, and their opinions on where our sport is heading in the years and decades to come.
Timestamps:

0:55) - similarities and differences between American and European racing
(4:43) - shaping American events in the image of UTMB versus maintaining their historical elements
(8:57) - reflecting on how well the UTMB World Series experiment has worked so far
(10:36) - how the vision for UTMB has changed or stayed the same over the last 20 years
(13:26) - incentives for growing UTMB
(19:21) - history with ITRA, Ultra Trail World Tour
(23:46) - genesis of partnership with Ironman
(31:44) - UTMB’s perspective on independent races
(36:10) - perspective on equality and sustainability issues in trail running
(45:54) - the independence of trail running
(52:46) - future of ultra trail running
(65:38) - final thoughts

Discounts:

Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

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2023 Canyons 100K Preview | Analysis, Storylines, Hot Takes, Predictions Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, I am joined by Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling to preview the 2023 Canyons 100K. We analyze the course, talk about what it's going to take to be successful, note some of the interesting storylines around the event, and make our predictions for the female and male top-3 finishers this year.
Timestamps:

(0:32) - excitement and context for this race
(8:40) - course analysis
(23:14) - women’s field preview, picks
(43:50) - men’s field preview, picks
(60:18) - 100 mile and 50K race discussions, final thoughts

Discounts:

Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

Links:

Follow Brett on Instagram and Strava
Follow Leah on Instagram and Strava
Follow Finn on Instagram and Strava

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Point to Point | Golden Trail Series Media Deal, Running Contract Ethics, Key Race Updates, UTMB Pregnancy Policy Apr 22, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to "Point to Point", a recurring episode of Singletrack recapping the news that came across my radar in the world of trail and ultra running in the last week.
Timestamps:

(0:30) - Golden Trail Series - Eurosport media deal
(2:10) - Ethics of running contracts
(4:10) - Canyons by UTMB, Sunapee Scramble
(5:40) - UTMB pregnancy policy
(6:40) - Personal updates

Discounts:

Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

Links:

UTMB Pregnancy Policy
Ethics Of Running Contracts
The Golden Trail World Series - Eurosport Partnership
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

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Eric LiPuma | Canyons 100K Outlook, World Championships Influence, East vs West Coast Trail Scenes Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

Eric LiPuma is a professional trail runner based outside of Burlington, VT preparing for the Canyons 100K later this month. In this conversation, we talk about the intersection of running and design, what "making it" looks like in our sport, the rising popularity of the trail running world championships, and receiving inspiration from other sports to make our community even greater.
Discounts:

Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

Timestamps:

(1:05) - thoughts and feelings running full-time right now
(3:23) - intersection of running and design, making sport cooler
(9:24) - east coast versus west coast trail scene, Boulder versus Burlington
(25:02) - influence of world championships experience
(30:03) - Western States versus Worlds versus UTMB
(37:57) - Canyons 100K outlook
(42:45) - outlook for "making it" in the sport
(47:07) - inspiration from action sports

Additional Links:

Follow Eric on Instagram, Strava, Website, Coaching
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon
Epicly Later'd

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

#156 - USA Men's 80K Team | 2022 World Trail Running Championships Gold Medal Recap

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Pro Trail Running Leagues, Ultrarunning Bets, Underrated Training Locations (Long Run Archives #12) Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

I am joined by Brett Hornig to recap the Lake Sonoma 50, discuss the new UTMB-Outside live-streaming partnership, and debate the practicality of gambling, leagues, and agents in pro trail running.
Discounts:

Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Timestamps:

(0:29) - perfect trail running towns
(6:43) - Lake Sonoma 50 recap
(25:28) - Outside/UTMB livestream partnership
(31:32) - is gambling coming to trail running?
(43:45) - Marvin Bracy Citius Mag interview
(65:18) - should pro trail runners have agents?
(78:49) - Michael Johnson’s tweet on future of pro running

Additional Links:

Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon
Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and The Feed

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

Long Run Archives #11 | Trail Running Scams, Breaking 14 Project, Hologram Pacers

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2023 Lake Sonoma 50 Preview | Analysis, Storylines, Hot Takes, Predictions Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

6 spots for the USA 80K Mountain & Trail Running Team are on the line in a certified barn burner of a race this coming Saturday at the Lake Sonoma 50 and I’m joined by Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling to break it all down.
We analyze the course, talk about success factors, note the interesting storylines, and make predictions for the female and male top-3 finishers this year.
Who’s making the USA 80K team and racing at Innsbruck, Austria in June?

Discounts:

Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Timestamps:

(2:44) - what makes Lake Sonoma interesting this year
(15:17) - women's field analysis, predictions
(37:32) - men's field analysis, predictions
(63:01) - final thoughts

Links:

Follow Brett on Instagram and Strava
Follow Leah on Instagram and Strava
Follow Finn on Instagram and Strava

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Brian Metzler | Trail Running Journalism, Sports Marketing Changes, UTMB Evolution Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

Brian Metzler is an award-winning sports journalist, writer, and photographer from Boulder, Colorado, who has produced storytelling content for publications like Outside, Trail Runner, Runner’s World, Competitor, and Sports Illustrated, as well as several books, including “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes” and “Trail Running Illustrated”.
We discuss the value of endurance sports journalism, how sports marketing is changing, creating trail running fans, and the evolution of UTMB.
Timestamps:

(1:06) - the content preferences of trail running fans
(12:39) - marketing trail running to a broader audience
(29:19) - “trail running is the future” for some shoe companies
(37:11) - concerns about the growth of the sport
(44:32) - shakeups in the trail running event landscape
(56:00) - it is better for a few athletes to dominate or have more mystery in the results
(62:16) - doping in trail and ultra running
(82:08) - if and when we’ll see a media outlet dedicated to pro trail running
(88:54) - the value of trail running journalism

Discounts:

Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Links:

Brian's website, Instagram, and Strava
Follow Finn on Strava, Instagram, and Twitter

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John Kelly: Ideal Barkley Athlete, Ultrarunning’s Public Appeal, Appalachian Trail FKT (Sunday Conversation) Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

John Kelly is a professional endurance athlete and now 2-time finisher of the Barkley Marathons.
In this conversation, we get his thoughts about the media attention and public perception surrounding Barkley, what draws the general public to our sport, his views on using intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation for high performance, creating the ideal Barkley athlete, and why he’s interested in going after the Appalachian Trail FKT in the future.
Timestamps:

(1:02) - why you have to be intrinsically motivated to finish Barkley
(6:42) - what John wrote in his application essay for Barkley
(9:23) - automated Twitter race narrations
(12:06) - changing ideas about how to prepare for Barkley
(19:26) - goldilocks zone of difficulty
(24:36) - why he returns to Barkley
(28:50) - mildly fulfilling successes versus stretch efforts
(32:16) - ideal Barkley athlete
(37:51) - why Barkley gets so much fanfare, why it appeals to the general public
(49:10) - addressing Barkley criticisms
(58:53) - Appalachian Trail FKT interest

Discounts:

Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Links:

Follow John on Instagram, Twitter, and Strava

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